
The American Idol Season 9 Top 12 guys had their turn and most of them were pretty bad with a few verging on “how the heck did he get into the Top 12″ bad.
Todrick Hall – Since You Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
He goes a little overboard trying to “hip hop up” the song to the point where no one knows what song he is singing but you have to give him points for creativity and boldness. Ellen says, “You’re such a great performer. I love that you did something different with it..the chorus was a little rough…love that you took a chance.” Randy says, “It didn’t even sound like the same song…you never want to completely obliterate a song…I still want to see you sing…” Kara says, “You don’t have to arrange the song that much…it’s undeniable that you are a performer…you took a risk that’s how you learn.” Simon was harshest with, “I thought it was a crazy arrangement of the song..murdered the original song…it was verging on stupid what you just did.”
Aaron Kelly – Here Comes Goodbye by Rascall Flatts
He sings quite well but just doesn’t have stage presence and looked a little nervous. Both Randy and Ellen liked his performance with Kara saying she can see him singing pop country. Simon says, “It actually was quite a good performance…you look as if you are embarrassed to be there…you have to take control of the song…absolutely you will be here next week.”
Jermaine Sellers – Get Here by Oleta Adams
He tries too hard and does too many things with the song – very old school. Kara says it best, “When you do those runs, make them meaningful…it felt a little old to me.” Randy and Ellen say that it was pitchy. Simon is absolutely trashing the guys – “In the middle when you were trying to over-sing it…you were screaming…I think you’ve totally blown your chance with that.”
Tim Urban – Apologize by OneRepublic
Woah…disaster from first note to last. How on earth did he get into the Top 12? Simon gives it to him, “We absolutely made the right decision not putting you through the first time around based on that performance.” Kara says, “The music just swallowed you up…here you were just buried under the beat.” Randy says, “It was really the wrong song for you…none of it worked.” Ellen says, “You couldn’t hit those high notes,” but that he could still get lots of votes because he’s adorable.
Joe Munoz – You and I by Jason Mraz
Okay job from him albeit just a run of the mill kind of performance. Randy says, “Not quite the perfect song choice…singing Jason Mraz is tough…but you worked it out.” However, Ellen and Kara liked his song choice. Simon says, “You have to get out of the bubble…based on that performance…an OK safe performance…you haven’t shown us that you can be a star.”
Tyler Grady – American Woman by the Guess Who
What a poser this guy is. He does not have a great voice nor singing style and looked like he does impersonations for a living. Randy tells him, “Be an original.” Ellen says he’s got all poses but it’s starting to feel put on. Simon says, “People are going to remember that performance…partly for the wrong reasons…it doesn’t feel natural…you’ve got to start changing it up.”
Lee Dewyze – Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
He’s got a good voice but lacks originality even though he tries to add some of his own interpretation, he ends up ruining the melody. Randy said it was pitchy and Ellen didn’t like the screaming parts. Kara says, “You tried to change it up, but you almost made the song unrecognizable in parts,” and suggested doing Bad Company. Simon though it was great, saying “I thought this was the best performance by a mile…this guy is a naturally good singer…I fought for you to be here…don’t do bad company..do what David Cook did with Lionel Richie…I think you are going to do well in this competition.”
John Park – God Bless the Child
Rather dreary song that he didn’t have any soul for even though he tried his best. The melody sounded off for the most parts that he tried to change up. Randy and Ellen felt it was the wrong song choice. Kara says, “There was no connection…loungy, sleepy indulgent.” Simon says, “You have got to have an incredible voice to take on that song, and you haven’t…it came over as very flat…zero emotion…It was a pointless performance…a copycat Michael Buble.”
Michael Lynche – This Love by Maroon Five
Another run of the mill performance although it was quite enjoyable. Ellen says, “You have so much personality…I thought that was a great song choice…a few pitch problems but it doesn’t matter.” Randy says, “I like you, you brought the energy up.” Kara says, “It was a little depressing in here…it wasn’t outrageously great…you’re comfortable with you..but you could challenge yourself.” Simon says, “you were like the support guy…it was like a vague jazzy version of that song…you’re better than that.”
Alex Lambert – Wonderful World by James Morrison
He sounds uncannily like James Morrison and ends just being a clone. Kara says, “You sound so much like James Morrison..that’s a problem, but a huge compliment…it’s all there, it’s not together.” Randy says, “Try to pull it all together…I like you.” Ellen says, “you’re like an unripe banana that you want to eat but can’t cos it’s not ripe”. Simon says, “That was the most uncomfortable performance of the night…you’ve got a good voice…but if you can’t get your nerves together.” Apparently this is only his third time performing in front of a big audience.
Casey James – Heaven by Bryan Adams
He plays the guitar and does an okay performance. The judges liked his song choice and singing but were not jumping out of their seats. Simon says, “We were both cursed with good looks…what I really liked about you..you chose the right song…honest, likable..sincere…this was the best I’ve heard from you.”
Andrew Garcia – Sugar We’re Going Down by Fallout Boy
He does acoustic on this but was not as good as his audition nor Hollywood Week where he did a great version of Paula Abdul’s Straight Up. Kara says, “It was a really strange rendition of that song….it wasn’t meant to be acoustic.” Randy says the arrangement was “really strange.” Ellen says, “I think that Paula song is going to carry you for awhile…you were too inside yourself.” Simon says, “I was disappointed with that…too serious, indulgent, not original enough…I don’t think tonight you took a risk..a bit forgettable.”
The 2 guys with the least number of votes will go home.
Sorry about the lack of promised videos but American Idol is really going Chuck Norris on everyone who posts performance videos.
To make up for it, here are the American Idol 9 Top 12 guys mp3 downloads – CLICK HERE
See also:
American Idol 9 Top 12 Girls Top 12 Guys Results
American Idol Season 9 Top 12 Girls Videos
American Idol 9 Top 10 Girls Top 10 Guys Results